Chill out: See how the El Paso Zoo keeps animals cool in a heat wave
EL PASO, Texas -- With triple digit temperatures hitting the Borderland its not just humans that feel the heat, our four-legged friends at the El Paso Zoo have to deal with the 100-degree days as well.
The El Paso Zoo does what it can in triple-digit temperatures to keep the animals cool.
One way is through popsicles; the orangutans are given frozen treats made of juice and fruit.
The primates also have another tool at their disposal, burlap.
“In the summer they will dip the burlap in the water and wrap themselves in it or lay on it or whatever, use the burlap to cool themselves off. In the winter they snuggle up and warm up with the burlap,” said Rachel Alvarez, a zoo animal caretaker.
Other animals, like the African Red River Boar, have a moat and get apples to bob for in the cool water.
“It's just like you would in a splash pad for example," explained African collections supervisor Amanda Leverett. "You go in, you get wet and then you come out and the evaporative cooling in the desert evaporates off your body and keeps you cool.”
If you want to see the animals enjoying a cooldown for yourself, the El Paso Zoo is open from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
